Can I be Charged with Driving Under The Influence of Drugs

Can I be Charged with Driving Under The Influence of Drugs

September 1, 2017

The most common misconception regarding DUIs is you must be drinking and driving to get pulled over and arrested. This is not the case in Los Angeles or anywhere else. Driving under the influence means driving under the influence of anything. You might be drunk, but you might be using drugs. Whether they are prescribed or not doesn’t matter. If you are under the influence of anything while operating your vehicle, you are going to be arrested and charged with a DUI. One thing that does surprise many people is the broad array of drugs you can be arrested for taking if you’re driving, which is why you must understand what’s happening when you’re arrested for a DUI without drinking.

Driving Under the Influence of Illegal Drugs

Illegal drugs are anything that is not regulated by the federal government. While marijuana is legal in some states right now and often legally prescribed for people with specific medical issues in others, it’s illegal to anyone without a prescription in states without a legal marijuana law. Having a prescription for marijuana or driving under the influence of it in any state is still illegal.

If you’re using illegal drugs, you may not operate a vehicle. If you do, you fall into a category of law breaking that’s not easily defined. You might be charged with a DUI, you might be charged with possession of illegal drugs if they are on your person or in your car, and you might be charged with illegal drug use. There are so many situations that could apply depending on the circumstance of your arrest.

You may not operate a vehicle if you are taking any illegal drugs. It’s always illegal because it impairs your judgment and ability to operate a motor vehicle. If you are pulled over for any reason and the officer suspects you are under the influence of drugs, you could go to jail.

Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs

What happens if you have an illness, an injury, or you have depression or anxiety or another health issue that requires the use of prescription medication? You can’t give up your life to take your prescribed medications, right? Wrong. You may not operate a vehicle under the influence of any drugs at any time. You either make the decision not to drive or you find a way to take your medication at night so it’s out of your system before you drive the following day.

You can even be arrested and charged with a DUI if you’re taking over-the-counter medication. If you are pulled over and the officer suspects your judgment is impaired or you are under the influence in any way, you will go to jail and face a DUI charge. You never know how a medication might affect you, even if it’s a typical pain reliever. For example, a woman who takes medication meant to help her overcome her menstrual cramps might be under the influence. She picked it up at the supermarket on her way home from work that day, took one, and it’s causing her muscles to relax, her mind to slow down, and her body to stop responding quickly. She’s driving home, and it’ s illegal for her to do that.

You can be arrested and charged with a DUI when you operate a motor vehicle in California if you’re taking drugs of any kind. Legal, prescription, or illegal, you’re going to face charges. When you get behind the wheel of a car after taking this kind of medication, you put your life at risk. You stop making good decisions, and an officer can arrest you.

If you’re arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in California, call a DUI attorney to help you with your case. A DUI attorney has experience with this specific area of the law, which means you’re able to focus on getting through this legal battle while someone with knowledge is working to help get your charges dropped or reduced. If this is not the first time you’ve been arrested for a DUI, you have bigger issues with which to deal. You must call an attorney right away to ensure the best possible outcome.

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